While I live & breathe Home Decor, my second love is food. Many of you who follow on Instagram know that my husband (the real cook of the household!) Spoils me with delicious meals every night of the week. We met in the restaurant industry & he has taught me nearly everything I know about cooking. And I am proud to be that “Foodie Couple“. So I have decided to share some of our favorite recipes with you all every once in a while…

As this week is both of my parents’ birthdays, I asked Chloe what kind of cake we should make… she adamantly responded “your Banana Pudding”. While not a cake, I cannot fight her on her choice as it is a family fave & my version is requested at any family function we attend. And I’m not going to lie… it’s usually the first to disappear. Just saying.

I know you are thinking, it’s just Banana Pudding!? Well, my version still retains the nostalgic flavors, there are a few twists that take this one off the charts!

Ingredients:

1 Bunch of Ripe Bananas (the brown ones are the best!!)

1 5.1oz Box of Vanilla Instant Pudding (I use Jello Brand)

3 Cups of Cold Milk

1 Container of thawed Cool Whip

1 Box Vanilla Wafers

Sounds normal right?! Here is the wowza part of this recipe…

Salted Caramel Sauce:

1 Cup Granulated Sugar

6 Tablespoons of Salted Butter (cut into 6 individual pieces)

1/2 Cup of Heavy Cream

1 Teaspoon of Salt

Start with your Salted Caramel Sauce…

Heat your Granulated Sugar in a Saucepan over medium heat. Stirring constantly with a Rubber Spatula.

Once the sugar begins to melt & become an amber color, add in your butter tabs one at a time. Be careful as they may splatter.

Add in your Heavy Cream slowly after the butter has melted in. Again, this may splatter.

Once incorporated, allow the mixture to boil for one minute. It will bubble up towards the rim of the pan.

While the Caramel is cooling, go ahead & make your pudding according to your package directions. After your pudding sets, fold in half of your Cool Whip Topping. Everyone will be asking how you got your pudding so light?!? This is how…

Slice all of your bananas & begin to layer your pudding how you see fit.

I prefer: Pudding, Cookies, Bananas, Caramel Sauce…Repeat. But that is just me.

When serving I like to add a big scoop of whipped topping on top & layer on the Salted Carmel Sauce as well. Because it really is the star.